Writers, columnists, photographers and analysts from US Chess had much to celebrate at the annual Chess Journalists of America (CJA) meeting on August 2 in Grand Rapids. US Chess took home 26 awards, including two of the “big three” – John Hartmann won “Best Story of the Year” for his January 2023 “L’affaire Niemann,” while WGM Tatev Abrahamyan was awarded the “Best Column” prize in her first year of eligibility.
The U.S. open and women's annual national championship tournaments are now underway at the St. Louis Chess Club and the Hans Moke Niemann cheating controversy remains, unfortunately, the all-consuming storyline.